Herringbone Buttoned Cowl

August 20, 2016

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It’s coming near to the end of August, which means we’ll soon enter into the month that brings my favorite season of all — Autumn! That means it’s time for cowls, scarves, hats, boot cuffs… do you know how happy this makes me? As much as I’ve had fun coming up with home decor patterns for the last few months, fall/winter accessories are my happy place.

To kick off the season of apple crisp and hayrides, I’ve designed the first accessory in the Little Monkeys Crochet Fall ’16 lineup, the Herringbone Buttoned Cowl. This is a snug little piece of neckwear that is perfect for layering. On a cool day, it looks great worn with a shirt and jeans. On a colder evening, tuck it under your winterwear and let the ribbed collar peek out – the bottom of the cowl is nice and flat, so it won’t add bulk under your coat!

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The Yarn

For this pattern, I used the gorgeous, relatively-new Vanna’s Style (from Lion Brand), which is a DK (that’s a #3 weight) yarn. (Don’t confuse this with Vanna’s Choice, which is a #4 worsted yarn!) This yarn is stunning. It has the most beautiful stitch definition, which shows off the rows of the Herringbone stitch really nicely. It isn’t too shiny, but has just enough sheen to give it an elegant look. I haven’t found Vanna’s Style in any of my local stores yet, but you can always purchase it direct from Lion Brand.

Pattern Permissions

This is a FREE pattern, and by using it, you're agreeing to the following legally-protected conditions.
You're welcome to sell what you make with it; for online listings, please link back to my blog using something like this:

Pattern by
Little Monkeys Crochet
littlemonkeyscrochet.com

Here are the “do nots”:

Do not resell the pattern, altered or in its original form.

Do not copy and paste the pattern onto your own blog, in a Facebook group, or anywhere else. Simply link to this page instead. Anything beyond this is copyright theft, regardless of what your pattern-sharing buddies tell you. 🙂

Do not pull any of my photos from this site (or any of my other sites) for your own use. The exception to this is if you want to share my article link(s) on your own blog; in this case, you are welcome to take one photo per post for use on your site as long as it is accompanied by a direct link back to my post.

A NOTE ABOUT PRINTING: My patterns no longer show up when accessed via PrintFriendly.com. (This is out of my control; please see my FAQs for more info.) If you wish to print this pattern (for personal use only), you can copy & paste it into a text editing document, or purchase the inexpensive PDF (see pattern info, below).

Special Stitch:HHDC - Herringbone Half Double Crochet. Here's how you do it:

HHDC: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch. Yarn over, pull loop through stitch AND through first loop on hook (this is similar to a slip stitch motion). Two loops remain on hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops.

(If you need additional help, Moogly has an excellent video tutorial here. Please note that while her video considers the CH2 at the beginning of rows as a stitch, the pattern below does not.)

Notes:(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.(2) CH2 at the beginning of rows does not count as a stitch.(3) The pattern is divided into 3 parts: the Top Band, the Body, and the Side Band. The pattern as a whole is worked in one piece (there is no sewing at the end).

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The Pattern

Part 1: Top Band

To begin: CH9.

Top Band, Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH. (8)

Rows 2-120: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 6 STS. SC in last ST. (8)

Row 121 (buttonhole): CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. CH2, SK 2 STS. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. SC in last ST. (6 + CH2)

Row 122: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. 2SC in CH2 space. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. SC in last ST. (8)

Rows 123-124: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 6 STS. SC in last ST. (8)

Part 2: Body(Note that for ease of row counting, we are referring to the next row as "Row 1" instead of "Row 125".)

Body, Row 1: CH1, do not turn. SC evenly down the long edge of the piece, putting 1SC in each row. (124)

Row 2: CH1, turn. HHDC in each of the first 115 STS. 9 STS remain unworked (and will remain so for the remainder of Part 2). (115)

Rows 3-42: CH1, turn. HHDC in each ST across. (115)

Note: At this point, you should be on the same side of the cowl as the buttonhole we made back in Row 121 of the Top Band. If you're on the opposite side you probably miscounted something, but it's no big deal; just do one more row of HHDC to get yourself to where you need to be.

Row 43: CH1, do not turn. SC evenly up the side of the cowl, working toward the buttonhole, putting 1SC in each row until you reach the inner corner where the top band and the body meet. (41 SC)

Part 3: Side Band(Remember back in Row 2 of the body, when we left 9 stitches unworked? We're going to be working in those now.)

Side Band, Row 1 (highlighted in yellow in the photo below): SL ST to the closest unworked ST from Row 2 of the body section. CH1. SC in BLO of each of the next 7 unworked STS. SC in both loops of the final unworked ST. (8 SC)

Row 2: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 7 STS. SL ST in each of the next 2 STS along Row 43 of the body. (8, + the 2 SL STS along Row 43)

Row 3: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS, SC in BLO of each of the next 7 STS. SC in both loops of the last ST. (8)

Rows 4-23: Repeat rows 2-3. (8)

Row 24 (buttonhole): CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. CH2, SK 2 STS. SC in BLO of each of the remaining 3 STS. SL ST in each of the next 2 STS along Row 43 of the body. (6SC + CH2 buttonhole, + the 2 SL STS along Row 43)

Row 25: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS, SC in BLO of each of the next 3 STS. 2SC in CH2 space. SC in BLO of each of the next 2 STS. SC in last ST. (8)

Rows 26-41: Repeat rows 2-3. (8)

Row 42: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 7 STS. SL ST in the final ST of Row 43 of the body. (8, + 1 SL ST along Row 43)

Depending on your placement of the first SCs from Row 43 of the body, your piece may look like it still needs one more row of ribbing to bring it even with the edge of the cowl. If so, go ahead and add that last row of ribbing by putting a SL ST into the CH1 space you created at the beginning of Row 43 of the body. CH1 and turn, and complete another row.

Edging: CH1, turn. SC evenly around the entire piece, putting 3SC in each corner. Join with a SL ST to the first SC.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Buttons: Lay your scarf flat, with the corner buttonhole at the top left corner. Your first button should be sewn 1 inch (both sides) from the bottom right corner; your second button should be sewn 6 inches from the right edge, 1 inch from the bottom edge (in line with the first button).

To Wear:

It can feel a bit tricky at first! Start by putting it around your neck with the buttonhole on your left, and the Top Band at the top. The button that is NOT in the corner is the button that will go through the top buttonhole. Once you've joined those together, you can slip the corner button through the second buttonhole, then tuck the extra fabric under the cowl. If you need a little extra help, watch this video of the Sparkly Buttoned Cowl (it's the same style of cowl):

Pattern Permissions

This is a FREE pattern, and by using it, you’re agreeing to the following legally-protected conditions.

You’re welcome to sell what you make with it; for online listings, please link back to my blog using something like this:

Pattern by
Little Monkeys Crochet
littlemonkeyscrochet.com

Here are the “do nots”:

Do not resell the pattern, altered or in its original form.

Do not copy and paste the pattern onto your own blog, in a Facebook group, or anywhere else. Simply link to this page instead. Anything beyond this is copyright theft. You are welcome to copy/paste it into a document for printing, for personal use only.

Do not pull any of my photos from this site (or any of my other sites) to promote yourself or your crochet business on your own blog, Facebook page, or anywhere else. The exception to this is if you want to share my article link(s) on your own blog; in this case, you are welcome to take one photo per post for use on your site as long as it is accompanied by a direct link back to my post and does not include any portion of the pattern itself.

Do not post a translation of the pattern anywhere – this is copyright theft. If you would like to help make a translation available, I am happy to publish it on my blog with a link to your blog or Crochet-related Facebook page.

Do not make a video tutorial of this pattern (or any of my patterns). For a detailed explanation of why this hurts designers, please contact me.

I welcome all comments and questions as long as they are spoken with kindness, and I will always try to extend the same respect to you with my replies. If I feel your comment is inappropriate or unnecessarily hurtful, it may be deleted at my discretion.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I’ve just given birth to my 3rd little monkey, a baby boy named Henry James, on 12/28/16. I may be slow at responding to messages and greatly appreciate your patience during this time of transition. I’m not disappearing, but I may not be able to help you as quickly as you need it. – Rebecca 🙂

I just have to say, your patterns are beautiful and I love this herringbone buttoned cowl. This is on my list to make for fall. I have already started making your herringbone baby hat. I live in Queens, NY and work in NYC and go often to the Lion Brand yarn shop to buy yarn and take classes. I will be picking up the Vanna’s Style yarn to make this cowl. Thank you for all the work you put into creating your wonderful patterns.

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am jealous, I would love to be able to visit the Lion Brand shop and especially their headquarters. Hopefully some day! There are a lot of wonderful people there who have been so sweet to me, and I’d love to give them hugs! 🙂

Do you know if the colors of Vanna’s Style are the same as Vanna’s Choice? And have you found this yarn in craft stores like Joann’s or Michaels? I have never seen this yarn in stores. Is it only available online? I have been wishing there were more choices out there of this weight yarn, besides baby pastels.

There are not near as many as Vanna’s Choice has, and I’m not sure if they’re the same formulas to be an exact match to some of the Vanna’s Choice colors. I’m hoping they’ll add more colors to the line as time goes on. I have not seen it in my local stores yet. 🙂

I live in Canada and Michael’s carries the Vanna Choice yarns here. If you have a Michael’s where you live, you could possibly check them out there or go to their website to see if they carry this line of yarn.

Just curious how much the pattern would change if I used #4 yarn instead? I have some that I would like to use but wasn’t sure if it would make a huge difference or not. What sized hook would you recommend for using a #4…5 or 5.5mm?

It would be a bit bigger, but actually, I thought about doing a version myself. The finished piece that this pattern produces is a more snug cowl, and I think changing to a #4 yarn would just make it a slightly more oversized cowl, which I think I would love just much. I would probably use a 5.5 hook. Let me know how it turns out if you do it!

I just started making this using worsted yarn (Lion Brand Heartland Tweed) and a 5mm hook. It is very easy to adapt the pattern to a different yarn by measuring as you go and leaving out rows as needed. I did 100 rows for the top band instead of 120 and it is measuring about 31″. It is coming out beautifully and I know I’m going to be in love with it!
Thank you for all your gorgeous patterns! I can’t wait for the matching hat!

I love this cowl! I’ve made 2 others from your other patterns and they’re always beautiful! I do have a quick question.

For the side band, row 1, you say to SC in both loops of the last u worked st. Is this like a decrease? How would I do this? (sorry, I have MAJOR mommy brain at the moment and it’s not clicking to me for some reason!)

I have two boys, 4 and 6, and another on the way. I totally get the Mommy Brain. 🙂

It’s not a decrease (you’re overthinking it). For the 7 stitches before that last stitch, you’re working in BLO (back loop only) which creates the ribbing effect. You could do the final stitch in the BLO as well and be fine, but I like the more “finished” look of completing the final stitch in both top loops of the final stitch.

Ah ok! That makes sense now! I don’t know why my brain wasn’t working lol. I have a 16 month old boy and a 2 month old boy who is not sleeping through the night yet so I’m surprised that’s the only part of the pattern I didn’t understand at this point! Thank you for the quick reply!

Once you’ve SCed down the side of the body, do you tie off and start from the left (your pic with yellow and blue lines has the yarn tail in the first SC over to the left instead of the body)? Complicated question, hopefully makes sense. Once I know for sure, I’ll have a super cute cowl.

I think I understand what you’re asking. In the photo, that’s not a yarn tail, that’s my working yarn, and I’ve already SC’d Side Band Row 1. So after you SC down the side of the cowl, you’ll be right in that inner corner; then after you do Side Band Row 1, you’ll be on the outer edge of the cowl. I never fastened off. Hope that helps!

I love this set but when I put the URL into Print Friendly (love that site) it only brought up the pics and your dos & don’ts but no actual pattern. I copied and pasted into Word and saved as a PDF, so did get it. Just thought you should know. Love your patterns. Keep up the good work because my only talent is making the items, can’t design 🙁

Oh no! I removed the Print button a couple of weeks ago because it was doing the same thing, but when I plugged the URLs into PrintFriendly then, it still worked fine. That’s a bummer. Thanks for letting me know!

I love this pattern so much and I am almost finished, but I’m struggling with the slip stitches that attach the side band to the body. I’m unsure which two stitches I should be slip stitching into. It seems like there is still a stitch left unworked on the row, but you are saying to sl st in the next two stitches on Row 43 of the body, so i’m worried i’m putting them in the wrong place. I’ve tried a few different things and frogged and tried again and something always looks off. I hope this makes sense

Without seeing your work I’m just guessing, but sometimes the stitches can play tricks on our eyes. If you’re doing the correct number of stitches in the ribbing rows, then there won’t be any left at the end.

Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern! However I tried to change the buttons and now I’m having problems with the button holes. I found these really cool wooden buttons that are approximately 1.24″ wide . I thought that I could modify your pattern on row 122. By Chaining 8 instead of Chaining 2… but now the end of part 1 is round instead of square. Can you help me?? 🙂

I’m not sure I understand what you did. You chained 8 instead of 2? Do you mean you did that when you created the buttonhole in Row 121? That would leave a buttonhole 4x larger than the one the pattern creates, so I’m guessing I’m not understanding you right. 🙂

Hi. I love this pattern but it is extremely ‘snug’ on me. I habe finished the top band and I know I won’t wear it this tight. Would it work just to go back and work a few more inches before I start the button holes? Thanks.

It would work, you’ll just have to adjust the pattern a bit as you go. For instance when you get to Part 2, Row 2 where it says “HHDC in each of the first 115 STS. 9 STS remain unworked”, you’ll need to HHDC in as many stitches as needed to leave 9 unworked. Good luck 🙂

This cowl is beautiful! It is so simple and classy — you have an awesome talent for design! I love how it buttons on the side. I’m definitely going to need to make this — I may be giving a lot of these next Christmas!

love this pattern, is it possible to let me know the finished size of the cowl, i love the fit shown on the picture, i’m making a few for family but using different types of wool and would like them to be the right size.
many thanks 🙂

I have a question. In your pattern you note that although in the moogly video she counts the chain 2 as the first stitch but it will not count in this pattern, however you state to only chain 1 at the beginning of each row of the HHDC. Was that an error and it should b Ch2 or is it correct and you should only Ch1 between the HHDC rows?

Wow, you are very observant! 🙂 Great question. The CH1 is correct – it’s just a difference in preference between what I do and what Moogly does. All I really meant was that the starting chain at the beginning of rows (regardless of how tall it is) doesn’t count as a stitch.

Hi! I’m really enjoying working this cowl up. My tension is off though, and I’ve had to do more rows than listed to get it to the correct size. My question is, how far apart are the buttonholes? I think if I do that correctly, and sew the buttons on at the right measurements, it should all work out fine! Thanks

Hello!
I really love the cowl pattern, but I am having difficulty.
I am attempting to crochet the herringbone cowl.
I am having difficulty trying to figure Part 3 side band.
I am not sure where to sl st at. My rows start curving.
Your image shows that it should be flat. Do you have
an example you canshow me? I have started & torn out my
yarn several times. I would really like to finish this project.
I want to give the cowl as a gift to my daughter-in-law.
Thank you!

I'm Rebecca, a wife, mom, and tryer-of-new-crafty-things. I love to crochet, and I try to design patterns that the younger generations will love to make and love to wear. You can get to know me a little more here!